Automatic bottle-stopper



(No Model.)

vT. M. SANDERLIN. AUTOMATIC BOTTLE STOPPER.

Patented Feb. 15

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THOMAS M. SANDERLIN, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES H. BRO'WN, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATHC BOTTLEMSTOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,258, dated February 15, 1898. Application led April 26, 1897. `Serial No. 634,037, (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs M. SANDERLIN, of Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Bottle- Stoppers; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this speciiication.

This invention is animprovement in automatic bottle-stopples; and it consists in the novel construction of a device whereby the mouth of the bottle is opened or closed by the position of the bottle, as will be hereinafter described, and summarized in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section through a bottle with my improved stopple applied, showing its position when the bottle is vertical. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing the position of the stopple when the bottle is in a position to emptyits contents. Fig. 3 is a rear View of the stopper. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the spring-catch E.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A designates an ordinary bottle. The stopple consists of a tubular plug C, having an enlarged head O', the base c of the tube opening out at one side of said head, which is rounded on its upper edge, as shown.A

The plug O may be provided with a jacket B, of any suit-able material, to make a close iit in the neck, and to its head C is pivoted a block D, which is slotted at d to embrace head O' and also to contain the operating mechanisms of the stopple.

Vithin block D is secured a short springcatch E, having a slot e in its lower free end, which is slightly curved outward,so that when the block D is in normal position-4. e., vertically in line with tube O and closing the opening therein--the slot e of the catch E engages a detent e on the upper end of the head C of plug C and locks the block thereto.

Vithin slot CZ is a gravital trip G, having a weighted upper end g and a shank g, which is pivoted in the slot 'near the lower end of catch F. and has a lateral rib g2, which is adapted to engage the end of catch E and disengage it from detent e when the weight g falls toward the catch. (See Fig. 2.)

Then the catch is engaged with the detent, the block D is locked rigidly to the plug O, as indicated in Fig. l 5 but when the detent is disengaged from the catch the block can be turned at right angles to the plug, so as to uncover the mouth of the opening in the plug, as in Fig. 2. The block can be turned autoinatically into the position shown in Fig. 2, when the bottle is turned in position to empty it, by means of a suitable spring F, a coiled spring being shown, one end thereof being attached to the head O and the other to a rod d3 in the block behind trip G, as shown..

The operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. The bottle is shown in its closed position in Fig. l; but when it is desired to empty the bottle it is turned up, as usual, and in so doing trip G drops inward and its rib g2 presses against the catch E and disengages it from the detent, whereupon spring F pulls block D to the positionshown in Fig. 2. W hen the bottle is set upright and the block raised to vertical position, trip G falls against rod d3, releasing catch E, which is then engaged by the detent, locking the block and closing the mouth of the plug.

The block D may be orn amented as desired, or it can be replaced by any figure or object that would add to its attractive appearance.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the tubular plug, a hollow block pivoted to the plug and adapted to close the opening therein; and a catch located within the hollow block adapted to lock the block to the plug when the opening is closed by the block; with a gravital device pivoted in the head and adapted to release the catch when the bottle is tilted into emptying position, and means for then throwing back the block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a stopple, the combination of the tubular plug; a block pivoted to the plug, and

adapted to close the opening therein; and

means for locking the block to the plug When substantially as described so as to throvvr back the block When the locking device is released, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

3. The combination in a stopple of a plug C having a detent on its upper end; a block D pivoted to the upper end of said plug; a spring-catch E secured in a slot in the block adapted to engage the detent on the plug, and a gravital trip Gr for disengaging the catch and detent, substantially as described.

4. In a stopple, the combination of the plug C the block D pivotally connected to the upper end of the plug; and a detent for locking the block to the plug; With a spring F fastened to the plug and block adapted to Withdraw the head from the mouth of the bottle when the detent is disengaged; and means for automatically disengaging the detent When the bottle is tilted, substantially as described.

5. In a stopple, of the character described, the combination of the plug C, having a rounded head C; and a detent e' thereon; with the block D piVoted to the head 0'; a spring E secured in a slot in the block and adapted to.

engage the detent when the block closes the opening in the plug; a gravital trip G pivotally secured in the block and adapted to press against the spring E and disengage it from the detent; and means for automatically throwing the block back when the detent is released, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THoMAs M. SANDERLIN.

In presence of- GHAS. H. BROWN, JAMES R. MANSFIELD. 

